The Jewish community was shocked to learn of a vicious attack on a 50-year-old Jewish man walking home from shul on Shabbos.

The incident occurred at around 1:30 p.m. on Rutland Road near Schenectady Avenue in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn.

The victim – who has lived in the neighborhood for about 3 years – was taken to Kingsbrook Jewish Hospital, having suffered a cracked rib, as well as bruising and scratches across his body.

The assailant remains at large. He was described by the victim as tall and muscular, in his 40s, with a small beard.

After reading about this attack on Matzav.com, a noted philanthropist from Los Angeles has taken a keen interest in the case, offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension of the suspect.

The philanthropist told Matzav.com that “such a crime, suspected to be motivated by bias, must not be ignored. It is important that our community make it known that perpetrators of such heinous attacks will be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

This is the second week in a row that a hate crime occurred in Crown Heights. Last weekend, a 42-year-old Jewish man visiting Crown Heights was attacked on Eastern Parkway.

New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) says the Jewish community is in a state of shock and fear following the attack.

“There’s one violent incident after another; one attack after another—always on innocent, vulnerable members of the Jewish community, and always with a racist, anti-Semitic message,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “The Crown Heights community feels like they are under siege and this has to stop immediately. The police must increase their protection of these innocent people.”

The most recent victim described to CrownHeights.info the harrowing attack in vivid detail: “As I was walking home on Shabbos, I passed a man smoking a cigar on the corner of Rutland and Schenectady and I said, ‘Good afternoon,’ to him. As soon as I greeted him, he began yelling at me, ‘You fake Jews, who are you saying hello to? You’re fake Jews and you stole all my money and robbed me, and stole my mortgage and my house. I want to kill you!’

“I thought the man was just crazy so I started walking away, and he shouted, ‘You don’t walk away from me,’ and started chasing after me. He caught up to me at the corner of East 46th Street and Rutland and jumped me. He put me in a choke-hold and I started to feel dizzy. I felt my air going out and I started saying Shema. I thought I was going to die. Somehow I was able to move out of it and started screaming for help. He was saying, ‘You don’t need help. I need to kill you.’”

Meanwhile, the attacker punched and kicked the victim repeatedly.

“Two nurses who saw the attack intervened and separated the man from me and told me to go, to run away. They didn’t even bother calling police,” said the victim. “When I got home, I contacted Hatzalah, who in turn notified the police.”

“Demonstrating unity in such circumstances is vital,” the LA philanthropist remarked. “When we come together, we let it be known that when one of us is assaulted, all of us have been attacked.”

“Will Brooklyn become like Paris now?” asked Assemblyman Hikind. “Will we start seeing people attacked with racial slurs on a regular basis? Do Jews here really have to fear for their lives from criminal thugs? We need a strong and immediate response to these hate crimes, and I won’t rest while this continues!”

10 COMMENTS

Where are the leaders of Crown Heights. I don’t understand. The Community Council of CH has elected officials. Why don’t we hear anything from them at all. 2 weeks now & their quiet.
Is this normal ? Is this ok? Is this acceptable?

If this was Williamsburg the Shmirah would be all over this.
If this was Boro Park / Flatbush Dov Heikend would be marching the streets.